Geodis Calberson expands infrastructure, adds Iberian services
Parcel and logistics firm Geodis Calberson has expanded its infrastructure in the UK and launched new door-to-door distribution services connecting from the UK to Spain. The company is engaged in a five-year expansion plan in the UK, which is says goes against the general trend in the industry.
It has now opened three new sites at West Thurrock in East London, at Wythenshawe in Manchester and Hedge End in Southampton.
Geodis, part of French firm SNCF Geodis, said the move was part of its strategy of being closer to its customers as it connects them to Europe and the rest of the world.
Geodis Calberson network development director Heather Newton said: “We are delighted to be opening our new sites to bring an even better service to our customers in London, Manchester and on the South Coast.”
Newton said her company’s services had been “one of the best-kept secrets” in the industry, a situation it wanted to change region by region with its expansion and new facilities.
“We are investing to ensure both service levels to our clients and our own positive growth can continue through these difficult economic times,” she said. “As well as creating new business the three sites have stockholding facilities to further extend the offering to Geodis customers.”
UK to Iberia
Separately, Geodis Calberson has launched new door-to-door distribution services between the UK and the Iberian peninsula this month.
The company is offering EUROTOP and EUROFIRST services departing the UK every evening, with a 72-hour transit door-to-door to Spain and Portugal. The EUROTOP service is tailored for customers needing extra liability and customer service for shipments of a single parcel or more, while the EUROFIRST service provides daily group age connections across Europe.
Geodis said it is partnering with Spanish firm Buytrago, under a three-year-deal, to provide the express delivery service to the whole of Spain and Portugal, as a “real alternative” to airfreight with online door-to-door visibility.
The service sees goods arrive in Madrid on the afternoon of day three after collection, with final delivery to most destinations in Spain and Portugal the following day.
Geodis said urgent goods for the city of Madrid and surrounding areas can be delivered within 48 hours door-to-door by request.
The new daily service to the Iberian peninsula follows a similar offering Geodis Calberson launched earlier this year between the UK and Italy.
Geodis Calberson managing director Jamie Cuthbert said his company was seeing “strong growth” in both Italy and Iberia with the new services.
“The service is proving to be extremely popular. Our customers really like the proactive approach of EUROTOP,” he said.
“Our customer service teams stay in close touch with all our customers to ensure they know when goods will be delivered and to make sure they are fully aware of any issues such as address difficulties or consignees who cannot be contacted. That way our customers can keep their clients fully up to speed and no surprises.”